The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-11-02

| S~SNO- ~'StiAN1 q S7lA4 Va IL y NdA
moanCd piteously for her sister.
For the half-hour that these two
had been Imprisoned their efforts
had been to draw near to each other
when they saw that escape was i'm
possible. Neither can survive. The
rest of the Newman family were
dead. Some sat upright and others
were doubled in their beds. Life
had evidently fled while they were
wrapped in slumber.
In the same building. over store
No. 8, lived Charles Duyere, trav-
cling salesman, and his wife. Wis.,
iting them was Miss Hattie Brown
of Columbus, Ky. She was badly
injured but miraculously escaped
death. She is the only person who
passed through the teg,ib,a ordeal
and lives to tell the story Of her es>
cape.
She awoke to find herself buried
beneath heavy timbers somewhere
against the wall. She was unable
to tell where she was thrown; but
when her eyes opened she beheld
the thrilling scene that had all the
effects of a horrible dream. On one
side a wall Of fire reached to the sky,
while crashing timbers and the
clhtter of iron caused q storm of
dangerous missiles to fly ABOUT her
head. The sceeams of th0s" in the
adjoining building rang on her ears,
and as she realized her situation,
she almost tainted. But narved to IA
last desperate struggle by the
groans OF the dying she es-
aayed to escape but found her
efforts batt)ed at every turn. She
was firmly pinned by beam across
her thigh and an iron rod over one
ankle. She could not tell what
means she employed to get out ;;
but as she twisted and struggled in
vain, the fire was blown toward her
until her lsrge black tresses We're
scorched, the odor Of burning meat
penetrated her lungs and a most
sufocated the braye girl. Relief
appeared hopeless; ; just as she sank
back in despair, the ruins settled
down and the overhanGing timbers
were raised from the limbs which
were fettered in deadly embrace.
No time was to he lost, as the fire
pressed close around her. With ex~
traordinary effort, Miss Brown
sprang to her feet and staggering,
falling she made her way
blindIy through the ruins. Again
and again she fell, and, as she says,
her strength was completely ex-
hausted and she stumbled forward, |
falling headlong into an open place
where she lay unconscious for a few
minutes. She was restored by the
cool breeze; that brought blood to
her brain and she again rose to her
feet only to find herself in the COM
parative safety Of Il small rear yard.
Then she ran to neighbor's house
and climbing through the balcony, |
sank down in swoOn, The neigh
Dor found her there and c1rried her
into the street where she wa3 given |
q skirt, and some clothing. She |
paid no attention t. the kind offers
of irie -lljy hands, but went down to
the scene of the sxplotion and re-
maiHtd there in agony, scanning
Iii cj:arrei and bruised forms as
IT,, tir"!uen brought the victims from
tii'. rul" mass OF splintered matter.
Ov,r the store room No II resided
NJ. i:rvant with her daughter, Miss
PaJy.With them were,two boarders,
Charles Erfferd and Mrs. B asly.
The last named were buried so
deeply in the debris that |
The search for her was given up
until tie others were removed.
Charles Erfferd was taken out
alive, but he died on the way to the
hospital. Miss Bryant was bruised,
but her injuries are not dangerous.
An unknown man of 40 years was
found in the debris and removed to
the mCrgue.
Besides these injured in this
building. many persons in the
neishborhood were more or less cut
and bruised by flying splinters and
bricks. For several blocks on either
side of the street, the conrussion
windows, and in the im-
mediate vicinity and on the oppo-
site side OF the way the fronts of
buildings Here mashed in by the
terrible force, ard scarcely window
or door remains. Walls cracked,
floors gave way and plaster fell in
almost every house within aradius
of one hundred yards, and on the
het:ls Of sleeping residents. startling
them and causing mad rush and
flight TO the street The scene of
terror OF the street was increased by
the ghastly gilre Of the consuming
flames, and figures wildly running
and gesticulating, 70 ed only in
night dresses, wildly told the dread
and fright that had
seized the community. The din was
enf anced by the rumble of ambu-
lances and the humping of the fire
engines. A little while and human
nature asserted itself, and the organ
lied efforts of the city were of avail.
The ambulance service Was exceln
lent. Wagons sent to the scene
brought skilled attendants and
many physicians were ready when
their services could be used. Moths
ing was spared to relieve the suffers
ers. AS they were removed from the
debris they were taken Immediately
to the DisnensatOrv The nolica